Following Leeds United’s relegation from the Premier League the previous season, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke blocked any transfer of Pascal Struijk because he considers the Dutchman to be a crucial player for the Lilywhites.
Struijk moved to Elland Road as a youngster back in 2018 from Ajax and has been vital at the back for the Yorkshire club ever since the team were promoted back to the top flight under Marcelo Bielsa three years ago.
The Dutch international is also one of a select few players who remained when the squad was relegated to the Championship last season, whilst many made up their minds to part ways over the summer.
When Jesse Marsch was in charge of the first squad in December of last year, Struijk did agree to a new deal that would keep him at Leeds through 2027. Board members at Elland Road, according to The Athletic, thought the center-back would join the mass exodus in the summer.
Nevertheless, the outlet claims that Farke refused to sell the versatile defender, telling the Leeds United board to rebuff any offer submitted for the 24-year-old. Struijk was the one man that the German didn’t want to lose.
There was interest at one point from Belgian side Club Brugge, as reported by Voetbal Krant, but no deal came to fruition in the end with the UEFA Europa Conference League side.
Farke’s faith in Struijk has been repaid already as Leeds United have kept five clean sheets in their last six matches in the Championship. The only game that the Lilywhites failed to keep the opposition out was during a 3-1 defeat to Southampton at the weekend but Struijk did score Leeds’ only goal of the match.
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